ESL Preservice Introduction Workshop by Tacoma Community House

1. Welcome to theESL Preservice Introduction

2. TCH offers: • Adult education • Employment assistance • Immigration services • Trainings (like this one– through Literacy NOW) Tacoma Community Houseis an organization that began in Tacoma in 1910 as a settlement house to welcome newcomers to Tacoma.

3. The workshops are funded by: Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Fees to individual programs Tacoma Community House Literacy NOW provides a variety of workshops: For ESL Tutors For Literacy Tutors Intercultural Communication for the Workplace or Library Literacy NOW is a division of Tacoma Community House.

4. What will you get from this training? The purpose of this training is to: • Give you information about immigrants and refugees • Give you an introduction to needs of English language learners • Provide background information and strategies to aid in communication with your learners

5. This information is divided into three sections. At the end of each section, there will be brief quiz for you to complete.

6. Washington State is home to a variety of people who come from all over the world.

7. History of Immigration in WA Most influxes of immigration have occurred during times when immigrants have felt the “push” away from their home countries due to wars, famines, and poor economic situations or the “pull” of America in terms of providing opportunity.

8. 1770’s First Asian Immigrants came in large numbers from Hawaii 1840-1880 Europe’s “First Wave Migrations to WA” From Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland 1860’s and 70’s Japanese and Chinese recruited for industrial work

9. 1880-WWI Europe’s “Second Wave” Migrations to WA • Westward expansion encouraged the East Coast (Italy, Greece, the Balkan States, Poland, Russia and Austro-Hungary) to head West. 1903 Korean immigrants recruited for labor from Hawaii • About 1,000 came, forming a core Korean community in WA

10. 1940’s Middle Eastern Communities Emerged in WA • Immigrants were from Arabic speaking countries Large numbers of Mexican Americans immigrated from southern states • This is credited as beginning the migrant agricultural workforce in WA and came in response to the labor drain at the beginning of WWII

11. Post WWII Smaller “Third Wave” of European Immigrants • Settled among core groups of immigrants from their home countries 1960’s and 70’s Influx of non-Mexican Latino immigrants • Were granted refugee status by the US government in response to the multiple military coups that occurred during this period across South America

12. 1970’s WA sponsors the first groups of Vietnamese refugees from the Vietnam War • This created an enclave of Vietnamese immigrants that form the base of a strong Vietnamese community still in WA today Post 1970’s Since the 1970’s, immigrants have come from the following areas: • Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos) • Poland (Russian Jews) • Former USSR • Somalia/Sudan

13. When you hear the word “immigrant” what do you think of?

14. According to the US government, foreign born individuals are separated into groups: • US Citizens • Immigrants • Legal Immigrants • Illegal or undocumented immigrants • Refugees/Asylees

15. Immigrants • Legal Immigrants apply to live in the US through work or family connections • Illegal or undocumented immigrants do not have permission to reside in the US

16. Legal Immigrants… • Are sponsored– they have a connection here whether by work or by family • Are on their own timeline to learn English and get a job • Allowed to apply for citizenship after 5 years residence in the US • Cannot (typically) access social services

17. According to US law refugees are… People unable to live in their own country due to reasonable fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social grouping

18. Refugees: • Are on a timeline in terms of getting a job • Have access to social services and employment assistance (Temporary Assistant to Needy Families -- TANF) • BUT must be in class or work at least 32 hours • Can receive TANF benefits for 5 years • Allowed to apply for citizenship after 5 years of residence in the US • May have a highly traumatic background and experiences

19. Refugee Resettlement: Three Government Priorities Priority 1– Compelling Protection cases • Refugees for whom no other durable solution exists. Priority 2– Groups of special humanitarian concern, *subject to change every year • Burmese in Thailand; • Iranian religious minorities in Austria; • Meshketian Turks; • In-country processing: Former Soviet Union, Cuba, and Vietnam Priority 3– Family Reunification • Spouses, unmarried children under 21 or parents of persons admitted to the U.S. as refugees

20. According to US law… Foreign born citizens have the same rights, responsibilities, and expectations as native born citizens– EXCEPT that they cannot become President. Whether an immigrant or refugee upon arrival, all foreign born individuals can apply for citizenship after 5 years residence in the US.

21. Between 1990 and 2000 alone, the foreign born population increased by 90%. Year Total Number % of Population 1990 322,144 6.6% 1999 434,957 7.7% 2000 614,457 10.4% 2005 763,059 12.2% What percent of WA State is Foreign Born?

22. Where do US Immigrants come from? Nationally, the vast majority come from Mexico. Top Ten Countries Represented by Immigrants in the US

23. WA State has a higher percentage of immigrants from Russia and the Ukraine than the US average. WA State also has a higher percentage of immigrants from East Asian countries like Laos and Taiwan.

24. In Washington, immigrants come from… Top Ten Countries Represented by Immigrants in WA State

25. The refugee population is very different from the immigrant population. Because refugees only come from government approved countries, the countries they come from can change every year.

26. Where do US Refugees come from? • About 80,000 refugees come to the United States each year • The number of refugees accepted from each country changes each year. • In 2009, the biggest numbers of refugees are coming from: • Iraq (16,695) • Burma (16,000) • Bhutan (11,992)

27. In Washington State, refugees come from… Top 3 Refugee Countries: • Somalia—17.8% • Ukraine—16.6% • Russia—10.3%

28. Quiz (click for Answers) What are the three groups into which the US government separates foreign born individuals? Answer: US Citizens, Immigrants (legal and illegal) and Refugees/Asylees. True or False: Refugees are sponsored by a family member or workplace. Answer: False, legal immigrants are sponsored by a family member or workplace. True or False: The countries which refugees are from can change every year. Answer: True. True or False: One major difference between the United States and Washington State is that WA State has more immigrants from Southeast Asia. Answer: True, Vietnam and Laos are among the Top Ten Countries Represented in Washington State.

29. Whatever the immigrant status; refugee, asylee, legal immigrant, undocumented or illegal immigrant, all will struggle with differences between their home country culture and US culture.

30. A Model to Understand Culture There are three levels of culture to understand… Sensory Conscious Rules Unconscious Rules

31. The Sensory Level When we think about culture, these are the areas that we can easily see and predict might be different from culture to culture. Examples • Language • Architecture • Food • Money • Vegetation • Density of Population • Modes of Transportation • Clothing Sensory Conscious Rules Unconscious Rules

32. Conscious Rules These are the things we teach our children. Although we can name these behaviors, the meaning of the behaviors is obscured because they are automatic and we do not have to think about them. Examples • Greetings • Eating • Punctuality • Eye Contact • Space Sensory Conscious Rules Unconscious Rules

33. Unconscious Rules Our beliefs, values and behaviors which are so automatic and “natural” that we hardly stop to think that someone else might see the world differently. Examples • Importance of work • Attitudes about men’s/women’s roles • Communication Styles • What makes a good parent, spouse, boss Sensory Conscious Rules Unconscious Rules

34. Culture shockhappens when a person experiences the confusion and discomfort of having everything culturally familiar replaced by unfamiliar cultural norms.

35. People living in a different culture adjust through a process of integrating their native culture with the new culture in a form of bi-culturalism. There are five stages of… Cultural Adjustment

36. Stage 1: Everything is new and interesting. 1 Happiness 2 5 4 3 Time

37. This person is in Stage 1: “I come to the US and I go to the grocery store and there is so much food! Also, there are cars everywhere– everyone has a car! America is so exciting!”

38. Stage 2: 1 Everything is new and interesting. Happiness 5 3 4 2 Time The differences of the new culture become apparent and frustrating.

39. This person is in Stage 2: “I was a college instructor in Afghanistan and I had many things, and I still don’t have those things here like I had there. And I won’t be able to have those things here; the standard of living. I don’t even have a backyard here so that my children can play, and in Afghanistan I had over 1,000 acres of farmland, fruit gardens, and houses.”

40. Stage 3: Cultural differences and challenges are mastered. Unconscious rules of the culture become better understood. 1 Everything is new and interesting. Happiness 3 2 Time The differences of the new culture become apparent and frustrating. 4 5

41. This person is in Stage 3: “I changed my values and attitudes in this country. In my country I didn’t talk to my children very much, but in this country I try to play with them. I try to change to that relationship where we can share everything. I love them.”

42. Stage 4: 1 Everything is new and interesting. Cultural differences and challenges are mastered. Unconscious rules of the culture become better understood. Happiness 5 4 3 2 Time Strangeness of the new culture hits home. The differences of the new culture become apparent and frustrating.

43. This person is in Stage 4: “I'll never get used to how Americans say ‘hi’, but don’t really stop to talk. I miss how in my country we say ‘hi’ to everyone and stop to talk with friends or neighbors we meet. But, I am safe and my children have opportunities to build a future here.”

44. Stage 5: ACCEPTANCE AND ADJUSTMENT ATTAINED 1 Everything is new and interesting. Cultural differences and challenges are mastered. Unconscious rules of the culture become understood. Happiness 5 3 4 2 Time Strangeness of the new culture hits home. The differences of the new culture become apparent and frustrating.

45. This person is in Stage 5: “I have lots of friends in America. I feel like this is my home. I miss my country, but not like I used to. I’m very happy here.”

46. Helping immigrants adjust • Learn about your students’ culture • Look for books or movies about that culture • Recognize the process of acculturation • Compare and contrast the students’ culture with US Culture and include examples of different cultures in your teaching • Deepen your awareness of your own culture • Pay close attention to Unconscious Rules • Be open to differences in perception, your “Rules” may be different

47. Quiz(click for Answers) • What are the three levels of culture? Answer: Sensory, Conscious Rules and Unconscious Rules. • What is culture shock? Answer: The intense confusion and discomfort produced when adjusting to life in an unfamiliar culture. • What are some different ways you can help students experiencing culture shock adjust? Answer: Learn about your students’ culture, recognize the process of acculturation, deepen your awareness of you own culture and be open to differences in perception.

48. What skills and support do immigrants and refugees need? • English skills • Work or job skills • Help learning English • Help finding or applying for a job • Help finding housing

49. Where do they get their skills/support? • Work • Interacting in the community • Going to school • Working with a tutor • Sponsors

50. Roles of Learners Adults play a number of roles; they are family members, community members, workers or job seekers.